NATIONAL CAPITAL OPERA SOCIETY • SOCIÉTÉ D'OPÉRA DE LA CAPITALE NATIONALE Newsletter • Bulletin Summer 2011 www.ncos.ca Été 2011 P.O. Box 8347, Main Terminal, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3H8 • C.P. 8347, Succursale principale, Ottawa (Ontario) K1G 3H8 Julie Wows Vermont! by Shelagh Williams We had been hearing good things about the Green Moun- a bit smallish, although it may have been early in the day for tain Opera Festival (GMOF), now in its sixth year under him. Soprano Mariateresa Magisano has sung several times founding Artistic Direc- with Opera Lyra (OLO) and, although her voice was not tor, Canadian bass Taras Photo by Michael Slobodian too good at the start, she soon warmed up and proved a Kulish. Therefore, when strong advocate for the rejected Micaela. Tenor Richard we found out that one of Troxell, who sang Lenski in OLO’s recent Eugene Onegin, their two productions provided a sincere and serious Don Jose whose ardent was to be Carmen, star- and beautifully sung Flower Song in the second act melted ring our own BLOC win- Carmen’s anger. But of course mezzo Julie Nesrallah in the ner Julie Nesrallah, we title role made the show - she embodied Carmen with her just had to go! looks, her hair, her voice, her acting - and she played her GMOF does own castanets! Needless to say, Julie did not disappoint, quality productions and but the whole production was first class, providing a most Don Jose their traditional staging of satisfying experience - both dramatically traditional and un- Bizet’s Carmen under derstandable, and musically beautiful. director Ellen Douglas The second GMOF production, taking place in the Carmen Schlaefer was a wel- Skinner Barn in Waitsfield, was Mozart’s Cosi fan tutti, come treat after the dis- performed by very talented members of their Emerging Art- appointing and weird Eurotrash La Scala production we ists Program (EAP), many of whom were products of endured in Milan last fall. In Vermont, for a matinee, we McGill University. During the overture, an interesting by- enjoyed good English surtitles by Bruce Stasyna and a full play of Don Alfonso flirting with Despina and getting slapped 28-piece orchestra. This Carmen also benefited from a for his few judicious cuts, such as the often tiresome children’s Don Alfonso pains Despina Fiordiligi chorus in Act I. Resident set designer Gary Eckhart pro- provided vided an attractive atmospheric and adaptable unit set which the moti- with slight adjustments and additions suited all four acts vation and was well lit by Julie Duro. The carefully co-ordinated for the early twentieth century costumes from Opera de Montreal, action, designed by Francois St. Aubin, added to the attractive since in a and coherent presentation in the charmingly renovated and fit of acoustically sound Barre Opera House. Conductor Daniel pique Guglielmo Beckwith seemed to start out a bit slowly which resulted in Ferrando Don the chorus mumbling its words indistinctly and not keeping Dorabella Alfonso together. However, he soon had his excellent orchestra and Photo by Spencer Leonard insti- singers moving at a suitably sizzling Spanish speed! As the gated the toreador Escamillo, baritone Troy Cook was lively and bet with Guglielmo and Ferrando that their girlfriends looked very stylish in his suit of lights, but his voice seemed Fiordiligi and Dorabella would not be faithful in their ab- (continued on page 11) Summer2011 NEWSLETTER • BULLETIN Été 2011 NATIONAL CAPITAL OPERA SOCIETY Board of Directors President: Murray Kitts telephone 830-9827 email: kmitts1637@ rogers.com The following members were elected to the board at the annual general meeting: Pat Adamo, Renate Chartrand, Jim Burgess, Ute Davis, Gordon Metcalfe, Elizabeth Meller, Peggy Pflug and Jean Saldanha. Specific posi- tions will be decided at the first meeting of the new board. Newsletter Editors: David T. Williams and Tom McCool Brian Law Opera Competition Recital Mark November 19, 2011 on your calendar. The tenth biannual competition will be held at the Unitarian Congregation at 7:00 p.m. Look for more details in the next newsletter or on our website. Website Alert Most of the back issues of this newsletter, dating from 1986 to the present, are available on our newly reno- vated website (http://ncos.ca). Just click on “Newsletter” in the box on the Home Page and then select the year and specific issue that you would like to see. You will find some interesting reading and photos to bring back wonderful memories of opera and the society’s events over the years. Our inventory is not complete so if you happen to have a newsletter that is not in our collection please contact us and we would be pleased to add it online. Praise for Philippe Sly “Philippe, the son of a radiologist and a nurse, told me that he had no concerns about the coming concert and judging. 'Fear does not enter into the equation' he said, between striking random tai chi poses and bursting into other flourishes of showmanship. Below the dirty-blond curls that sat in a stylish pile above his forehead, no gleams of sweat ever threatened to appear. Philippe’s boyish good looks might have made him a pop idol, but when he rehearsed his Wagnerian aria, the precision and beauty of his voice made it clear he was where he belonged. And when he spoke, at high speed, about the intricacies of producing operatic sound, it was impossible to begrudge him his youthful confidence — he was so winningly immersed in his craft.” — Daniel Bergner, NY Times, May 22, 2011 Membership Renewal A gentle reminder. The annual membership dues for the NCOS are for the calendar year. If you have not yet renewed for 2011 please forward your payment for renewal and any changes of information to the Treasurer, Gordon Metcalfe, 1782 Devlin Crescent, Ottawa, ON K1H 5T6 2 Summer2011 NEWSLETTER • BULLETIN Été 2011 PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT, MAY 15, 2011 Since last May there have been some important developments organization in good financial shape. Our Membership affecting the NCOS. The death of one of Canada’s most be- Chairperson, Vera-Lee Nelson, in spite of some health loved singers, Maureen Forrester, widely regretted by the in- difficulties, continues to show her dedication to the task ternational music community, left us bereft of our distinguished of maintaining the records and issuing receipts. Due to patron for the Brian Law Opera Competition. As a replace- the extraordinary ability and ingenuity of Jim Burgess, ment it seem logical to me to invite someone who since his our Webmaster, along with the assistance of Renate youth was connected with Brian Law as teacher and mentor Chartrand, we have a new and attractive website with and who had actually devoted his own talents to raise funds the same address (ncos.ca) which will ensure that our for the young singers who take part in our competitions. Gerald members will get the information they need now and for Finley, bringing with him extraordinary and ever-growing accomplish- many years to come. Elizabeth Meller does a great job ments on the opera stage, in the concert hall, on prize-winning CD’s in contacting members for our Opera alla Pasta after- and DVD’s, accepted my invitation and is our new patron. noons, copes with forbearance all the technical prob- The second development was the death of Bobbi Cain, lems involved and provides excellent introductions to the one of the founders of the NCOS, its long-time president, the operas presented. Peggy Pflug, who has been a board dynamo behind the Brian Law Opera Scholarship. Tragically, member for even longer than my 22 years, is our food over the last four years Bobbi was unable to oversee the com- expert for the competitions and is our hostess at our sum- petitions as serious health problems engulfed her. I attempted mer meetings. Finally Board member Pat Adamo is a to summarize the debt of our society to this hard-working, fund of good advice and also continues to contribute gen- dedicated woman in the 2010 Winter Edition of our newslet- erously to our competition fund. ter. Her substantial bequest to the NCOS will be used to The newsletter flourishes under the editorship further the careers of promising singers. Even more important of David Williams with Tom McCool assisting. We are is the way in which she established the competition, giving us fortunate to have Norma Torontow diligently sending out a plan which we wisely continue to follow. mailed copies to our membership. Our newsletter pro- This year the tenth anniversary Brian Law Opera vides excellent information about musical events at home Competition will be held on November 19th at the Unitarian and in accessible areas. But special mention must be made Congregation. For a while it looked as though Brian Law him- of our article writers who, no doubt, visit such places as self might be able to be present this year, but the plan to coin- Montreal, Toronto, New York, London, etc. for the sole cide our competition date with Brian’s appearance as a con- purpose of sending back reviews to our newsletter. Seri- ductor in Ottawa fell through. Our excellent publicity chair- ously, the articles are a delight to read and I would encour- person, Renate Chartrand, who is always on the lookout for age even more of our members to make contributions. new ways to publicize the competition, is getting lots of help This year we have been able once again to make advertising our event from the activities of former winners; substantial contributions to the Young Artist program of their appearances in major opera roles in New York, San José, Opera Lyra Ottawa and to the Pellegrini Opera Com- Dallas, and Edmonton, along with the release of CD collec- pany and to enjoy the results of our sponsorships.